Broom



l no Model.)

J. LAY.

BROOM. No. 272,890. Patented Feb. 27.; 1883.

Fig.3.

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JOSEPH LAY, 0F OLMSTED, OHIO.

BROOM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,890, dated February 27, 1883.

(No model.)

To all whom' it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH LAY, of Olmsted, Uuyahoga county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Brooms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of brooms in which the upper end of the head is iuclosed in a sheet-metal cap.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a plan. Fig. 2 is a crosssection on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 represents the broom with. one-half of the cap removed. Fig. 4 represents the form into which a piece of sheet metal is cut preparatory to being shaped into a half-cap.

The cap, which incloses the upper end of the broom-head b, is made in two halves or parts, a a, similar to each other, except that the side edges of each part are turned or folded in the opposite direction from the side edges of the other part, for the purpose of engaging or in terlocking to form the cap a a. The cap is shaped from two flat pieces of sheet metal cut into a suitable form, as shown in Fig. 4, and having a slit cut in each side to allow the pointed partsfto be bent in, as shown in Fig. 3. The flat pieces of sheet metal should be of such form and dimensions that the upper part of the cap will firmly inclose the broom-head and the lower end of the cap will fit around the handle h.

In forming the half-cap a, the side edges are to be folded down at the outer dotted lines in Fig. 4. The upper or perpendicular parts of the side edges are then to be bent upward at the inner dotted lines, as shown in Fig.4, and the pointed parts fbent in, as shown in Fig. 3. The lower or inclined parts of the sides are then to be bent upward at theinner dotted lines, as shown in Fig. 4, when the half-cap a will be in the form shown in Fig. 3. The opposite half-cap, a, is formed in the same manner, except that the side edges are to be folded over in the opposite direction from those in half-cap a, in order that the folded edges of the two half-caps a a may be interlocked, as shown at w in Fig. 2.

The head b is formed of broom-corn, splints, or other suitable material bound together with oneor more metallic straps, d 01, through which it is secured by nails to the flattened or wed geshaped lower end of handle h.

Cap a a' formed, as above described, in two parts placed together with their edges interlocked, may be connected with handle h and head b, attached thereto, by passing the cap over the upper end of the handle and sliding it down on the handle to head b, which should be firmly pressed into the cap. As cap a a is constructed of thin and pliable sheet-iron or other suitable metal, the pressure of handle II. will readily cause the lower part of the cap to assume a shape to fit the handle. The broom may then be placed with one side of cap a a on an anvil, and nailsc driven into the upper side of the cap and through head b, between straps d d. As the lower side of cap a a rests be reversed on the anvil, and-nails odriven in i like manner through the opposite side. One or more of the nails driven through the side of cap a a should pass through handle it.

The interlocked edges of cap a a'may be hammered down into the broom-head b to improve the outward appearance of the broom, as well as to firmly compress the interlocked edges, as shown at m in Fig. 2.

I In a broom constructed as herein described, the outer splints or other material of which the head is composed, need not be longer than the central splints, and may be shorter than is required in brooms in which the outer splints are bound around the handle by wire in the usual manner. The lower part of cap a a, by extending above the head I) and fitting handle h, acts as a brace to the latter, and the interlocked edges of half-caps a a make the cap rigid and strong, although composed of quite thin sheet metal, to avoid making the broom too heavy. The broom thus made is especially adapted for heavy work in sweeping stables and workshops. The outward pressure of the brush braces and retains in position the halfoaps a a.

I am aware that it is a common practice of tinsmiths to interlock the doubled edges of sheet metal and solder the joint thus formed in order to prevent the edges from unlocking or separating, and that sheet metal sufficiently heavy and stiff to retain its shape when bent has been jointed in a similar manner and then 2' sz'meao the side of one piece been bentrin against the end of the other to prevent unjointtng as in the case ofstove-pipes and other articles which are not subject to great stra n in their use. I am also aware that various devices have been used to retain the broom-brush within its cap, such as wire jaws and bars, across which the brush is bent and clamped.

I claim as my invention- 1. The sheet-metal cap a, a, formed of two thin sheets having their edges interlocked at the narrow sides or edges of head b, in combi nation with and retained in place by the outward pressure of head I) and handle h, the upper end of the cap being closely fitted to han- 

